All About Athens GA

Halloween Fun in Athens, GA 2009

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:07:00 GMT

Halloween Fun in Athens, GA 2009, the Ghost & Goblins will be out in force for Halloween this year!

Kid friendly fun includes Trunk or Treat at the Athens-Clarke County Police Sub Station on Baxter Street from 5pm to 7pm on Saturday, 10/31/2009! For ages up to 12, all trick or treaters MUST be in costume and you need to call to register at 706-613-3601 or 706-613-3603 and it is FREE!

Click here to take a look at the rest of the Halloween Fun from Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services - all programs are affordable or free!

Haven't got your pumpkins yet - don't worry there are still great ones left! Visit the pumpkin patch at Winterville United Methodist Church for a super selection, they also a fantistic spot set up to take photos! Washington Farms in Oconee County has great pumpkins and much more.

After the kids have had plenty of fun and gone to bed, Downtown Athens,GA will rock with tons of Halloween Fun for the adults. Terrapin Beer Company says come in costume Saturday for fun & prizes!

One of the most talked about Athens, GA Halloween events is The Wild Rumpus Parade & Spectacle taking place at 10pm on Saturday 10/31/2009 - check out more info here.

Click here for the Flagpole's list of other great Halloween parties & events for Athens, GA!

As always, be safe and have a great time!

Athens, GA Homeowners in distress - don't get scammed, foreclosure prevention fraud is rising!

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:11:00 GMT

Athens, GA Homeowners in distress - don't get scammed, foreclosure prevention fraud and scams are increasing! If you are a homeowner in financial distress and potentially facing foreclosure, people may be knocking on your door trying to steal your home from you.

Be Wary & Aware!

Some banks and mortgage companies send out legitimate "loss mitigation consultants" to knock on your door (especially if you don't take the phone calls from collections department personnel) who are able to assist you with modifying your existing mortgage or making alternative plans like attempting a real estate short sale. However, it is critical that you verify with your mortgage company or bank that this is truly their representative. Once of the best ways to do this is to call the customer service number of the company that holds your mortgage and ask for the loss mitigation department.

Take a look a the video below, so that you will understand how these scams work and how to avoid having your house stolen from you through mortgage fraud.

If you are facing financial hardship, and may be facing foreclosure, it is better for you to be proactive - call your mortgage lender today to discuss your modification options, or call a Real Estate broker who specializes in Athens, GA area short sales today. Please be careful when someone approaches you about preventing a foreclosure, especially if they "promise" to rent or sale the home back to you!

(photo credit: @respres)

Answers About Short Sales for Athens, Ga Home Sellers

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:47:00 GMT

As the housing market in Athens, GA continues to be stagnant with it taking more time for fewer homes to be sold, we are getting a lot of questions about "short sales". Over the next few weeks, I am going to attempt to answer some of the real estate short sale questions I am getting asked frequently.

Do I have to get an approval from my lender to offer my house as a short sale?

The short answer is no. Because every contract offering you may receive from a potential purchaser is going to be different, there is no such thing as an "approved short sale". However, there are many things you can do to get the ball rolling. Your real estate short sale specialist should be collecting the paperwork necessary to submit with an offer including a form that authorizes your mortgage company to discuss your situation with the real estate broker (often called a third party authorization), providing you with the financial worksheet which will document your hardship situation, and advising what other documentation is going to be required.

Do I have to be behind on my mortgage payments in order to short sale my home?

Again the short answer is no. Your short sale may not get priority processing, as it may be placed behind homes that are in foreclosure or moratorium (forbearance) status; however most major lender will consider a short sale where there is documented hardship and declining market situations. It is desirable for the lender to not have your property go into foreclosure which will reflect an even greater loss for them.

When should I consider a "short sale"?

When you have or anticipate a hardship situation that will cause you to be insolvent (when your monthly expenses exceed your monthly income) and/or your home is worth less than you owe. In order to avoid foreclosure it is critical that you not wait to late to begin the short sale process.

If you need immediate assistance and answers to your short sale questions, please feel free to ask your questions in the comments below or contact me now privately, otherwise I will continue to answer questions as they come in.

Are Houses in Athens, Georgia Selling?

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 06:20:00 GMT

We are pretty blessed in Athens Georgia with regards to the real estate market right now. Why? Well some houses are selling, inventory has decreased, and market values have taken a only a minor hit overall - not a huge one in comparison to other parts of the country.

Below is the breakdown of how many homes in what price range have sold in Athens (Clarke County) Georgia, so far this year.

As you can see, homes in the $100,000 to $160,000 range are predominant right now. Some of this can be accredited to the 1st time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8000 that is available through 11/30/2009. This price range is typically considered "affordable housing", and is moving quite well. We are even seeing "bidding wars" and multiple offers in this range right now.

Most homes in Athens, GA are taking longer to sell than they did 24 months ago.

Currently the median sales price in Athens - Clarke County is $159,376, whereas the average sales price is $140,000. These are very similar to the the median and average sales prices for 2007 and 2008.

Activity in the upper price ranges has been very stagnant, which still says something good about the general economy in Athens, GA. Although not many homes are selling, not many sellers are desperate enough to give their home away, which helps to maintain values overall.

All real estate statistics above are per Athens MLS and are believed accurate, but not guaranteed. All market interpretations are based solely on the opinion of me

We Remember That Fateful Day

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:26:00 GMT

This morning I, like many of you, woke up thinking about where I was and what I was doing 8 years ago. Below Alan May expresses most poignantly many of the things we all remember. I also remember how we all pulled together, the prayers raised and the relationships mended as we looked inward and loved outwardly. I appreciate Alan May for allowing me to share his words with you on this day, may we never forget!

Via Alan May, Coldwell Banker Evanston Realtor, North Shore Realtor (Evanston Real Estate, Evanston, IL):

We remember all of those lost in the twin towers on that fateful day.

We remember all of those lost at the Pentagon on that fateful day.

We remember all of those lost in the planes on that fateful day.

We remember all of those heroes, who went against the flow, and pressed toward the twin towers on that fateful day.

We remember all of those heroes, who climbed the stairs in those towers, in full equipment, attempting to save those caught in the twin towers on that fateful day.

We remember those, who by the grace of God escaped from those towers on that fateful day.

We remember those families with holes in their hearts from that fateful day.

We remember those families devastated by the loss of a father, mother, brother, sister, child on that fateful day.

We remember when hate visited our shores on that fateful day.

We remember the victims, we remember the heroes, we remember the survivors.

We remember when September 11th, was just another day on the calendar.

We remember.

ALAN MAY, Realtor®
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate
-------------------------------
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, 2929 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
847.425.3779 Cell: 847.924.3313 Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate, Evanston Realtor, Evanston Buyers, Evanston Sellers
North Shore Real Estate, North Shore Realtor, North Shore Buyers, North Shore Sellers

With Real Estate listings available everywhere on the internet, why do you need a buyer’s agent?

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:24:00 GMT

For the past several years, there has been a lot of discussion about what the real value a Real Estate Agent is to a buyer. Rare is the day now that a buyer has not already began their home search on the internet before ever talking to a real estate agent.

Greg Swann, at Bloodhound Realty in Phoenix, AZ explains why a buyer needs an agent much more eloquently than I ever have, a huge thank you to Greg for permission to "steal " and share this information!

"Here’s an intriguing question: Given that it’s so easy to search for homes on the internet, why do you need a buyer’s agent?

Face it, if you use the MLS search tool on my web site, you’re seeing exactly the same listings I see. And you know better than I ever could what you like and what you don’t like.

By now, the home search process is at best a partnership between the agent and the buyer. In some cases the buyer and I will work together to perfect our search criteria. But many buyers simply search the available inventory on their own, emailing me the MLS numbers of the homes they want to see.

So why do those buyers need a buyer’s agent?

Realtors hoarded the MLS data for so long that even they came to believe it was the source of their value to buyers. But this is very far from the truth.

You don’t need me to search for listings, although I’m happy to do that. And you don’t need me to open lock-boxes. You need a buyer’s agent to guide you through what is in fact an arcane and perilous process — potentially a financial disaster. You might not need me to find your next home, but you need me to make sure that you get it — or that you pass on it, if that is what is truly in your best interests.

A skilled buyer’s agent will write the kind of purchase contract that will prove surprising to you at every turn, with every term and condition tailored to achieve your best advantage. Your agent will supervise the inspection process and negotiate the optimal solution to the repair issues. Your agent will be prepared for every pitfall in the escrow process.

If you bought and sold houses every day, you could do all these things yourself. It’s because you don’t — and because the seller and the listing agent are looking to take advantage of your naivete at every turn — that you need a skilled buyer’s agent as your steadfast champion in the home-buying process."

Now, if you are ready to begin your search for Athens, GA homes - with no registration, just click the button below to search the Athens MLS via IDX, or feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!

Buyer Prequalification - It's an offer, no maybe it is or isn't!

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:13:00 GMT

I got an offer on one of my real estate listings a few days ago.

Whoo Hooo...then reality sets in, the "prequalification letter" wasn't worth the paper it was printed on when it rolled out of my fax machine!

So now instead of being able to present this to my sellers in a positive manner, I have to temper their enthusiasm with some realism, the buyer may never be able to close on this loan! You see, Mr. & Mrs. Seller, instead of blithely moving ahead with the purchase of your new home, we have to make sure you are protected - so that you don't wind up with 2 houses! I've already made the loan officer unhappy, and I risk offending the buyer, while trying to protect the seller and make sure this is fair to everyone.

Unfortunately for the potential buyer, we cannot take their offer very seriously. In the past, buyers would start their home search and when they found their perfect home, the next call would be to a mortgage lender or bank to get pre-approved. In today’s market, it is critical to get pre-approved financially by a mortgage lender or bank before your search begins!

Based on general questions about your income, debt, assets, and credit history, lenders can estimate how much mortgage you qualify for. Pre-qualification and Pre-approved are different things. Pre-approval means that you have applied for a mortgage; you have filled out the mortgage application, received your credit report, and verified your employment, assets, etc.

When you are pre-approved, you know exactly what the maximum loan amount will be, and you won’t have any surprises. A pre-qualified letter is not verified and just does not count for much if you are competing with other buyers who are pre-approved, which is happening often on the best deals in the Athens, GA market area. When you are pre-approved, you and the seller know exactly how much house you can afford. It gives you credibility as a buyer and lets the seller know immediately that you will qualify for a loan.

In addition to being pre-approved, it’s important to be pre-approved with a legitimate lender, the Internet has given rise to many non-local lenders. In some instances these lenders are less than reliable.

So potential Athens, GA real estate buyers, do your lender research carefully!
Common sense questions go a long way:

Does you lender return your call or email within 1 day?
Has you received anything in writing?
Has your lender requested paycheck stubs, or tax returns?

Please don't try to shop with a prequlification letter, that does you no good & might actually hurt your chances at going under contract on your dream home!

Think about this if you are considering buying Athens, Georgia real estate!

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:14:00 GMT

One of the most important things to remember when you are considering buying a home is : Be honest with yourself. Explore your motivation - if you are considering buying real estate because "now is a great time", it may not be your time!

There are some reasons that it may be a good time:

"First time buyers" that qualify can receive an $8000 tax credit.
Buyers can receive a state tax credit from Georgia.
Inventory is high.
Rent prices per month in Athens, GA often excced the monthly mortgage payment.

There are many reason that now may not be a great time:

You may benefit from cleaning up you credit - receive a lower interest rate.
Real Estate prices may continue to decline in the area you are interested in.
You consider real estate an investment , instead of shelter.

Just make sure you know what you are getting into and understand all your options!

Now, click here if you would like to search for Athens, GA real estate, including the surrounding area.

Athens, Georgia Fireworks for July 4th 2009 & other area celebrations!

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:49:00 GMT

There will be fireworks in Athens! The STAR SPANGLED CLASSIC event in Athens, GA starts at 6:00pm on 7/4/2009 at Bishop Park and includes "concessions, family games, inflatables, patriotic arts and crafts for kids, and music. The community birthday cake, donated by Publix, will be served, as well."

The fireworks are scheduled to start at about 9:30pm. The event is free and open to the public! Athens, GA has a long history of fireworks at Bishop Park, but they had been cancelled due to budget cuts for 2009. However, the community has stepped forward and thanks to the following - we are having fireworks in Athens on July 4, 2009!

PeachMac, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Presenting Sponsor

Advanced Asphalt Coating, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
Athens First Bank & Trust, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
Jordan, Jones & Goulding, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
McDonald's, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
Silver & Archibald, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
TSAV, the Star Spangled Classic 2009 Contributing Sponsor
The Athens Banner Herald, Star Spangled Classic 2009 Media Sponsor
Magic 102 FM, Star Spangled Classic 2009 Media Sponsor

Rise and shine early Saturday, July 4th 2009 to get a great spot for the Colbert, GA Fourth of July Parade. The parade features antique cars, tractors, horses, and lots more! Bring a bag for the candy thrown out to the kids! Colbert is located about 15 minutes east of Athens off Highway 72 in Colbert. The parade starts at 9am, with a festival following which features arts & crafts, concessions, and gospel & country music.

Watkinsville, GA (about 10 minutes south of Athens on Highway 441) will also play host to special Independence Day celebrations, starting Friday 7/3/2009 with First Friday on Main and a free art tour from 6pm to 9pm. On Saturday the 4th of July the Eagle Tavern will be the site of free watermelon, popcorn, cotton candy & more. There will also be music, concessions and more from 10 am to 2pm.

Be safe and have a Happy Fourth of July 2009!

Athens, GA ranked #5 for Best Cities for Jobs!

michelle@SuccessRealtyGa.com (Michelle DeRepentigny) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:21:00 GMT

Kiplinger's has ranked Athens, Ga as #5 in their top 10 Best Cities for Jobs and calls Athens one of the "safe havens during the recession".

Are you considering relocating? Seems like Athens, Georgia should be on your list of places to consider! Here is some additional info about Athens and feel free to ask us for a full relocation package.